Leap of Fate: Jumping into the Reef Nano World

[koopz1976]

Hi all,

After several years of maintaining an Nano Freshwater Planted Aquarium, I decided to build myself a Nano Reef. I decided to open this post to function as a journal.

All feedbacks are welcome if you see me doing something that can harm my tank. I want to prevent mistakes since I hate my livestocks dying on me.

Anyway, on to my tank. It is a Biocube 16 LED, same as size my Planted Freshwater Nano.

I started out with Live Rocks + Live Sand. Distilled water and Red Sea Pro Coral Salt. Lights are stock and so is the pump. I added a Hydor 240 g pump to create some wave action.

A week of cycling, and I got Ammonia and Nitrites to Zero. Nitrates are just as 2 ppm. I got no clue why this is so but I bought cured rock from my LFS so maybe that speed things up.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?pictureid=78302&albumid=11515&dl=1501525322&thumb=1

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?pictureid=78303&albumid=11515&dl=1501525322&thumb=1



I converted the middle compartment into a sum. I got a submersible LED and placed a Coralife Light Add-on at the back. Also put some LR in. I added some Cheatos and after a couple of days, I doused with copepods both on display and sump.

I added CUCs. Nothing fancy, just snails. 4 Tonga Nassarius, 2 Ninja Stars, 3 Ceriths and a Turban. I didn't add them all at the same time but all were in in 1.5 weeks time. I added also a couple of hermits.

At this point I added a small Eshoppe Protein Skimmer and an air stone in the first compartment.

I then started to do a gallon water change every 2-3 days.

Started adding coral. First one in is an LFS paradivisa. After a week a couple of hammers and then a torch 6 inches away from everyone. I also added a Finger Leather coral as backdrop. I also added a purple sponge but that did not work out well. There are still some portions alive but most of the parts are dead.

Here is what the tank looks like now.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?pictureid=78304&albumid=11515&dl=1501525322&thumb=1

I started a schedule to feed corals once a week. I am currently using Reef Roids.

Anyway, so far so good. I am eyeing putting in some feather dusters and mushrooms next.

Thanks for reading.

 

[LuizW13]

The picture is so small, i can't really see much. But from what i could see, it looks very nice.

 

[koopz1976]

The picture is so small, i can't really see much. But from what i could see, it looks very nice.

Thanks! I'm new to this and have no idea how to post images. Hehehe!:rollface:

 

[koopz1976]

Better Pics

Better Pics

I finally figured out how to make images appear.

Tank at cycling. Rocks and sand only.
Front View

Side View

As if July 31,2017

 

[koopz1976]

It's been a month now. Few changes. Had to put purigen to help with Ammonia. Notice would get .2 ppm erratically. Also added chemipure for Phosphate. For a nano, this worked out better than i expected. My water was crystal clear.

Added a second hydor which alternates to create wave flow. All my frags opened up pretty well.

Here's my current photo

Some cons.
1. found 3 small asterinas. Kind of ignoring them for the moment.
2. Three out of 6 Nassarius Tonga died. I have no clue why. every other night i'd put a couple of thin shrimp slices which the 3 other nassarius would zero. The three that died never became active ever since I introduce them.
3. Injured head of frogspawn died. I think this was due to waterflow plus the fact it was injured when it first arrived. Prior to my wavemaker setup, flow was unidirectional. i have two heads on the frag facing opposite each other. What ever i do the, only one side would get good flow. I guess this was the reason i went and bought the wavemaker. Flow has not been a problem since.

 

[koopz1976]

Photo

Photo

https://goo.gl/photos/tP7Th2eqGxWEqZrA7